UPDATED 7:51 AM EST, February 10, 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — Marco Rubio is taking center stage as Republicans search for a new leader.
Since President Barack Obama won a second term, the Florida senator has made several steps to emerge as a next-generation leader for Republicans and potentially position himself for a future presidential run.
The bilingual Cuban-American lawmaker has become Republicans' point person on immigration reform and pitches economic solutions at middle-class workers. He says the party needs to welcome more Hispanics and minorities and stay true to their principles.
